Aerial projectile.



T. J. & O. BURY. AERIAL PROJECTILE.

APPLHJA'HON FILED SEPT- 25. I9\8- 1,294,392. Patented Feb. 18,1919.

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Zlnueutm s TIBur w T. 1- 5L 0- BURY. AERML PROJECTILE- APPUCAHON man sEPLzs. m8. 1,294,392. Patented Eeb. 18, 1919. I 2 SHEETS-5HEEI 2.

THOMAS J. BURY AND ONEY BURY, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

AERIAL PROJECTILE.

Application filed September 25, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. BURY and ONEY BURY, citizens of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain, new and useful Improvements in Aerial Projectiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to an improved aerial projectile, and has for its primary object to provide a device which will be very destructive in its effects when discharged from an aeroplane upon enemy troops.

It is a more particular object of our invention to provide an aerial projectile or bomb having a plurality of radially disposed shrapnel containing barrels, explosive means to discharge the shrapnel from the barrels, and impact actuated firing means for the explosive.

It is also another important object of the invention to provide means for destroying the projectile after the bullets or shrapnel have been discharged to thereby prevent the enemy from obtaining knowledge of its construction.

The invention has for an additional object to provide an improved firing means which will insure the ignition of the explosive when the projectile descends either upon land or water.

The invention has'for a further general object to provide a device as above characterized which is relatively simple in its construction, effective and reliable for the purpose in view, and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction, combination and relatlve arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view;

Fi 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 25 and Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary longitudinal section showing a timing fuse for delaying the ignition of the explosive whereby the projectile is destroyed.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 255,622.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designites a shell or cylinder which is adapted to contain an explosive for the purpose of destroying the projectile. This shell, at one of its ends, is threaded into one end of a cylindrical chamber 6. A cap 7'is threaded upon the other end of the shell 5 and a similar cap 8 is threaded on the lower end of the chamber 6. 9 designates a stem centrally connected to the cap 6, to which the directing vane or blade 10 is secured.

Abequi-dis'tantly spaced points, nipples 11 are secured in the wall of the chamber 6, and tubes 12 extend inwardly from these nipples to a central, longitudinally extending tube 13 arranged within the chamber 6 which contains the ignition explosive. In the outer ends of the nipples 11, radially extending barrels 14 are threaded. These barrels are adapted to be tightly packed with bullets or shrapnel slugs and an expelling charge of explosive in the inner end of each barrel.

The cap 8 iscentrally formed with a nipple 15 in which a bushing 16 .is fitted to receive an'explosive cap 17. A tube 18 is diametrically enlarged at one of its ends and threaded upon the nipple 15. In this tube, a guide sleeve 19 is secured and in said sleeve the firing pin 20 is loosely engaged.

A plunger rod '21 is movable in the tube 18 and is formed with a head 22 at one end to engage the firing pin. The other end of said rod projects beyond the end of the tube 18, and a collar 23 is formed on said rod. A disk 24 of soft rubber is retained upon the lower end of the rod 21 and against the collar 23 by the nut 25 which is threaded on said rod, said disk being also engaged with the lower end of the tube 18.

Preferably, we also provide a fuse 26 extending through the wall of the cap 8 and through the tube 13. The ignition of the explosive in said tube may thus be assured in case the impact actuated firing means 'should fail of operation.

In the operation of the device, as above described, when the projectile is thrown from an aeroplane, it is directed in a substantially perpendicular position during its descent by the vane or blade 10. When the lower end of the plunger rod 21 strikes the ground, the impact causes a compression of the rubber disk 24 which normally holds the plunger rod in such position that the point of the firing pin 20 is spaced from the cap 17. In this compression of the rubber disk,

the rod 21 moves upwardly in the tube 18 and forces the point of the pin 20 into engagement with the explosive cap, whereby the powder in the tube 13 will be ignited. 5 The flame from the exploded powder passing through the vent tubes 12, enters the nipples 11 and ignites the expelling charges in the several barrels 14. Thus, the shrapnel slugs or bullets are discharged from said barrels in a plurality of radial directions with great destructive effect upon enemy troops in the vicinity of the projectile. is filled with an explosive which is ignited immediately after the discharge of the shrap- 15 nel from the barrels 14 so that. thereby the projectile is completely destroyed and the enemy cannot obtain knowledge of its. construction.

The cylinder 5 Obviously this chamber 5 might also be filled with projectiles such as shrapnel.

If it is desired to delay the destruction of the projectile for a sufficient length of time as to make certain of the complete discharge of all of the barrels 14 we may interpose be r tween the .shell 5 and cylinder 6, a cylinder 27 having a reduced threaded end'28 for en-' gagement in the end of the chamber 6 and a L nipple 29 projecting longitudinally .from said reduced end of the cylinder. A slow 80 burning'fuse 30 of any desired length extends through this nip 1e and u wardly into the cylinder 27 W en the cy inder is connected to the chamber 6,"the nipple 29 extends into the tube 13, asseen in Fig. 4, r

85 the fuse 30 being disposed in the explosive in said tube. Thus, when the explosivein the tube 13 is ignited and flame passes through the vent tubes 12 to the barrels 14, the fuse 3 0 is also ignited, and slowly-burns until it 40 reachesthe explosive in the shell 5. There will thus be an appreciable lapse of time 1 after the contents of the barrels have been discharged before the projectile is destroyed;

- e The distance above the ground at which the lbullets or shrapnel projectiles are discharged from the barrels 14 may be regulated as desired by providing guide tubes 18" for the lunger 21. ofvarious lengths.

The soft rub erdisk 24 will also yield upon- 50 impact with water soflthat the disk willbe ings, it is believed that the construction,

mannerof operation, and several advantages of our invention will be clearly and fully understood. The device consists of relaform and can be readily assembled. It will also be seen that the bomb or projectile is comparatlvely light in weight so that a large .ing from the ,containe'r to thesseveral bar- 'disposed shrapnel containin manifest that the number of barrels 14 may be increased as desired. The bullets or slugs discharged from these barrels will cover an extensive area and as they are ejected radially and horizontally from the body of the projectile, great destruction of the enemys forces. will result. We have herein illustrated and described what we believe to be 'a very practical embodiment of our invention, but it will be understood that the form and proportions of the several parts, and the manner of assembling'the same are susceptible ofconsiderable modification and we, accordingly, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within. the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.-

We claim Y 1. An aerial bomb comprising a body, a plurality of shrapnel containin barrels detachably engaged with the body and projecting radially therefrom,an explosive containing chamber disposed within the body and having flame conducting tubes extend- 90 rels to ignite the charges therein, impact actuated firing means detachably engaged with the lower end of the body and adapted to ignite the charge within said chamber, and a fuse extending into said chamber and adapted to be lighted in order to cause the ignition of said explosive if the impact actuated means does not operate.

2. An aerial projectile comprising a circular hollow body having a reducing cap at its lower end and formed with a centrally disposed axleitube adapted to contain an explosive, means for detonating the explosive including a tube detachably engaged with the reducing cap and extending below the same, a firing pin disposed in said tube, an actuating plunger for the pin and project ing beyond the tube, a plurality of radially barrels detachably engaged with the b0 y and having their imier ends connected by flame conducting tubes to the central tubular portion of the body, and a charge containing chamber detachably connected to the upper end of the body and with which said central tube com- 115 municates.

3. An aerial projectile comprising a body,

a plurality of shrapnel containing barrels connected to said body, a container for an ignition explosive arranged in the body,

flame conducting tubes connecting the con- 60 tively few parts, which are all of simple number of the projectiles can be carried" tainer to the several barrels, means for firing the explosiveincluding a firing pin, an actuating plunger for said pin normally disposed in spaced relation thereto, and a disk secured upon one end of said plunger and compressible under impact to permit of the movement of the plunger, whereby the firing pin is actuated.

' 4. An aerial projectile comprising a body,

a plurality of shrapnel containing barrels eenneeted to said body, a container for an ignition explosive all-ang ed in the body, flame conducting tubes connecting said c0nm ner to the several barrels, means for igniting the explosive in said container including a tube connected to the body, a firing pin in said tube, an operating plunger for said pin movable in the tube, and a rubber a-l: secured upon the end ef the plunger and engaged against the end of the tube,

said disk being compressible under impact whereby the plunger is operatively engaged with the firing pin In testimony whereof we hereunto affix 15 our signatures in the presence of two Witmesses.

THOMAS J. BURY. ON EY BURY. Witnesses J. J PUDDY, LOUIS J AENECKE. 

